STUDIES ON A SKIN CALCIFYING SYSTEM

The study investigated experimentally induced calcification in rat skin, known as "topical calciphylaxis." It found that mild injury, such as epilation or light squeezing, could trigger mineral deposits, which were initially sparse but could become extensive with prior treatment using a hypercalcemic agent. The mineralization began in the hair follicle, with hydroxyapatite crystallites forming within the inner root sheath cells and the hair cortex, as shown by electron microscopy. Despite this mineralization, the hair follicle remained functional without obvious degenerative changes. The study also noted that this low-level calcification was not limited to a specific species and could occur in rachitic rats, which typically do not exhibit a full calciphylactic response. The research discussed the implications of keratin mineralization and its relevance to the understanding of calcification mechanisms at the time.